Drivers could be fined £20 for leaving their car’s engine running in the street – with the penalty potentially doubling if it isn’t paid on time.
Engine idling is illegal under the Road Traffic Act, while the Highway Code states motorists ‘must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road’.
Andrew Marshall, marketing and partnerships manager at CarMoney, told the Daily Express drivers were more likely to idle their cars while defrosting their windows.
He urged motorists to cover their windscreens overnight, or use a can of de-icer and a scraper instead of switching the engine on.
Mr Marshall said: ‘Now more than ever it is important to be aware of our impact on the environment.
‘By minimising car idling on our daily commutes, school drop-offs and simply waiting in traffic, we can contribute less CO2 emissions.’
He added: ‘As winter approaches, lessen the need for idling whilst waiting for the windows to defrost by covering your windscreen overnight, or using a can of de-icer and a manual scraper to clear the windscreen.’
The RAC warned that idling engines can produce as much as double the emissions of an engine in motion, and highlighted how that would ‘impact the surrounding area and the air that we breathe’.
However, experts at Confused.com said the rules only apply on ‘public roads’, meaning motorists are technically free to idle their engines on their own driveways without fear of facing any punishment.
They said: ‘The rules over stationary idling apply to public roads only. So you aren’t breaking the law if you idle in your drive, or in a supermarket car park, for example.
‘However, just because it’s not illegal doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. You’d be chucking just as many toxic fumes into the air regardless of whose land you’re on.’
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